Our Director of Partnerships and Engagement, Vicky McNally, joined a roundtable co-hosted by Centre for Mental Health, Mind and the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network that explored how to build the mental health workforce we need for the future, using the Workforce Plan as its starting point.
The roundtable brought together people from across the health and care system, representing different professions and organisations, as well as lived experience, to look at how the expansion and transformation of the mental health workforce can be achieved in practice.
Vicky offered her reflections and explored the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead.
She said:
“We know the nation is in the midst of a mental health crisis and high-quality mental health care has arguably never been more important. Future proofing the workforce is essential if we are to tackle the problem.
“The NHS’s Long Term Workforce Plan is rightly ambitious in the number of people that need to be trained and employed to meet future demand. It also highlights the need to retain and reform our approach to the workforce in terms of working differently and enabling innovation.
“Our focus for the future workforce should be less about numbers and more on how we encourage and empower the most talented individuals to choose a career in mental health, with new and different skills, creating different career pathways in mental health and the ability to move across sectors and settings.
“Discussion at the roundtable rightly also focused on retention and the need for it to be given equal importance to recruitment. Research shows healthy and happy staff leads to high-quality services and service user care. At Cygnet we focus on improving our employee experience through initiatives such as staff networks, rewards and recognition, wellbeing initiatives, reflective practice, embracing a Freedom to Speak Up culture, celebrating successes and compassionate leadership.
“Recognising and rewarding staff is essential and all organisations should commit to investing in the learning and development of its staff. Our Apprenticeships offer a great opportunity to build on knowledge, skills, and behaviours, while earning a recognised qualification.
“Additionally, it is so important to recognise the value of the whole sector, local government, voluntary, community sectors, independent sector and the NHS and look at ways to increase collaboration across health, care and education.
“Here at Cygnet we are committed to working in partnership with other bodies and organisations and to be part of a solution moving forwards. We want to share best ideas and practice to build a robust workforce which will ultimately ensure some of the most vulnerable people in our society get the very best support they deserve.”